The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-10-07


the stranded vessel. Much valuable
time was thus consumed.
The delay proved fatal. A messenger
was sent back to the station on run for
another and stronger line, but before he
could return the schooner began to go to
pieces. She lay with her head to the
beach and the seas washed the sand
from under her stern until the heavy
weight at that end caused her to break
in two amidships. When the new line
was finally secured it was apparent the
vessel was going to pieces and that quick
action alone would save the lives Of the
six men aboard Of her. The howitzer
was charged and primed, and when the
smoke cleared away it was seen that the
aim had been accurate, for the line
whizzed through the air and fell across
the wreck. The hawser was made fast,
and the ship-wrecked crew began haul
ing it aboard, but their laborious work
was not half completed when the entire
stern of the vessel was borne away by the
surging seas. At the same time two of
her spars toppled over, carrying with
them three of the crew. They immedi-
ately disappeared and were seen no
more. Each succeeding we've that
broke over the wreck carried away some
part of the once staunch vessel.
In the meantime, when the life-saving
crew discovered that all of their efforts
so far to rescue the perishing sailors had
been of no avail they launched their sutf-
boat and faced death in heroic attempt
to reach the wreck. Capt. Costello, with
a life-buoy tightly clasped in his arms,
dropped into the water, but it is doubt
full if he lived moment. His body was
taken aboard by the surf-boat crew.
The captain of the life-boat was lost
overheard, and came very near losing
his life, as he had rib broken and was
otherwise badly bruised. Every effort
was made to resuscitate Capt. Costello,
but in vain. Mr.. Slater, one of the sail
ors washed off the crumbling wreck, and
the only one left to tell the tale, was for
tunate enough to get onto floating
piece of the deck, to which he chung,
though engulfed by the breakers half
the time, until picked up by the surf
men more dead than alive. n
A second effort was made to reach the
wreck with the surf-boat in charge of
Capt. George Smith, but it was impossi-
BILE to get to her, owing to the MOSS of
floating debris, and while still struggling
to get nearer the hull of the Inflated
schooner she made one last convulsive
lurch and was crushed into kindling
wood. The two exhausted victims sank
out Of sight and, were seen no more. A.
thousand or more Mortified spectators
gathered to witness the scene, but could
only look helplessly on. The life-saving
crew discharged their duty fearlessly. =,
The City of Green Bay measured 329
tons and classed A 2. She was built at
Green Bay in 1872. In 1873 she took a
cargo from Chicago to Scotland, return
ing to Montreal with coal. From there
she went to South America and then
to Liverpool. From the latter point she
sailed for Cuba. After two years On the
ocean she returned to the lakes where
she has been employed ever since on
the grain and ore trade. Two months
ago Capt. Reed bought the vessel from
G. w. Elphicke, for $1,000 and she is
insured in Smith & Davis agency for
$4,000. Her master, Capt. P w. Costello,
has sailed her for five years. He was
well-known on the lakes and highly re-
spected. Frank Wood, of Kenosha, was
mate, and Patrick Leary, of Chicago,
was second mate. The seamen were
Henry Borket, John Williams and Lars
Nelson.
WRECK OF THE HAVANA.
The following is from the Inter- Ocean:
ST.. JOSEPH, Mich, Oct. 3.-The large
fore-and-aft schooner Havana, after
riding a most furious gale, came to
anchor off this point about 10 o'clock
last night. The wind was blowing a
gale from the west, flashing the sea
high. Her anchor had barely
made fast when the waves began to
wash over her. The first sea made
clean break over her, and, washing
away the forescuttle, the water rushed
down the hold as over cataract. ALI
hands were put at the pumps.
AT midnight violent rainstorm, &C
companied by frequent and vivid flashes
of lightning, set in, and added to the
fury of the gale and sea in filling the
vessel. But Captain Curran and his
crew did noble duty. Without a muir
muir his men continued at the pumps,
one shift relieving the other at intervals
of thirty minutes.
Thoroughly exhausted and aware of
the one fact that the sea was making too
much Roadway for the pumps to resist,
Captain Curran ordered the. pumps
abandoned at 8.3o o'clock this morning.
The water at that time was within three
feet of the hatch comb;ng, and she wasi
sinking rapidly. With all haste her
anchor was shipped, and the Havana
started for the shore under three ibis. |
the fore and aft sails having been carried |
away during the night. Laboriously
she moved toward the shore, but when
within mile and half of it she made
! plunge,. rebounded, and was about to |
'lde the next on-coming swell when a
lea struck her broadside, washed over
Ter, and the next moment she sank ont
If view. Captain Curran and Frank
Wilder, the cook, of Benton Harbor.
lad on life-preservers at the time.
There was one man in the main rigging
md the mate and three seamen in the